Recording and controlling mechanism



Feb. 19, 1929.

A. E. CLAWSON RECORDING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed April 18. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Feb. 19, 1929.

A. E. CLAWSON RECORDING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 18, 1925 Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,702,892 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. CLA'WSON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TAYLOR INSTRUMENT COMPANIES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORI'ORATION OF NEW YORK.

RECORDDSTG AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Application filed April 18, 1825. Serial No. 24,253.

' This invention relates to recording and controlling mechanism of the variety adapted for use, for example, in con unct1on w1th processing apparatus, such as a pasteurlzer or the like, for automatically recording and controlling the operation of the same, one

object of the invention being to prov1de a combined recording and controlling mechanism of a simple, practical and efiiclent character operated by a single time means or clock. Another object is the provision of a mechanism of this nature constructed to utilize the usual rotary record chart holder or disk of the recording mechanism for actuating a control device such as a fluid pressure relay valve. A further ob ect 1s to provlde such a mechanism adapted for operating conjointly a plurality of control devices at predetermined times and for predetermined durations.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a recording and controlling mechanism embodying the present invention, shown with parts broken away for clearer illustration;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the same, partly broken away;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of'Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on the line 43-4 in Figure 3. I

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The invention is embodied in the present instance in a mechanism comprising a temperature recorder of a *well known type having a rotary holder. or disk for the record chart, with which cooperates a marking device or pen operating responsively to the condition to be recorded. The recording mechanism may have any usual or suitable form of construction of the general nature described and in the present instance comprises a casing 5, Figure 1, in the rear wall of which is mounted a time mechanism or clock 6' driving a s indle 7. A holder or disk 8 is mounted on t e forwardend of spindle 7 preferably by a frictional or other detachable form of connection, so that the holder can be removed and adjusted relative to the spindle, as well understood in the art. At 9 is shown a record chart detachably applied to the holder in the usual or any suitable manner, so as to be rotated with the holder by the clock. The chart as usual is graduated circumferentially as to time, the divisions of which are marked about its peri hery as at 10 and has also substantially ra 'al graduations in this instance representing temperature, the value indicia of which are shown at 11.

The marking means comprises a pen on an arm 12 pivoted on an arbor'13 carried by the frame or cradle indicated generally at 14 and 7 the arm is connected by means of a link 15 with one end of the sensitive element such as a Bourdon tube 16, the other end of which is fixed on the casing and connected with a capillary tube 17 of a thermometer bulb subjected to the temperature to be recorded. By this means the expansive and contracting movements of the sensitive element responsive. to the temperature changes, serve to swing the pen arm and pen over the chart and to continuously record the temperature as the chart is rotated bv the clock, as well understood in the art. The pen arm frame or cradle 14 is preferably constructed for adjusting movement to var the position of the arbor 13 and so adjust t e pen for accuracy, but asthis construction may have any well known or suitable character and forms no part of the present invention, a detailed description of the same appears superfluous. In the present instance there is pivotally mounted on the pen arbor 13 an arm 18 carrying an insulated bracket 19 provided with an electrical contact 20 connected by means of a flexible electrical conductor 21 with an 'insulated binding post 22 on the instrument casing. The pen arm is also provided with an insulated bracket 23 having an electrical contact 24 for cooperation with contact 20, bracket 23 being connected b a flexible con- 100 ductor 25 with an insulated inding post 26 on the casing. By this means arm 18, which cooperates as an index or pointer with the record chart, may be set to correspond with any desired temperature condition indicated 105 on the chart to correspondingly position its contact 20. When the pen arm reaches a position corresponding to the selected condition, its contact 24, engaging contact 20, completes a circuit'between bin ing posts 22 and no 26 withwhich may be connected any signal or control device which it may be desired to operate at the selected condition or temperature.

The present invention affords the combination With a recorder, such as described, of a simple and efiicient control mechanism operated conjointly with the recorder by the same time means or clock. It is preferred, for purposes of simplicity, to utilize the chart holder or disk itself for actuating one or more control devices on the casing, as, for example, by providing actuating devices on the periphery of the disk. This arrangement has the advantage that the chart may be conveniently positioned on the disk in the desired relation to the actuating devices and the latter with the holder then adjusted in the desired relation to the control device by reference to the indicia of the chart which serves to indicate at any time the setting of the actuating devices.

It has furthermore been found that theperiphery of a chartholder or disk may be advantageously utilized as a cam profile. The disk is ordinarily constructed of sheet metal and may be read1ly punched out and finished if necessary to provide the desired profile which may take any shape appropriate to particular applications of the mechanism.

The present mechanism is ada ted, for example, for use in recording an controlling the operation of a asteurizer apparatus requiring the filling, eating and emptying of a tank or vat repeatedly in accordance with a predetermined schedule, as well understood in the art. In the present instance also the main valves controlling the filling and emptying of the pasteurizer vat andits heating jacket or coil are operated automatically by a fluid pressure air relay although of course relay means of an electrical character might be substituted for the fluid pressure means. The control devices or auxiliary valves for controlling the fluid pressure relay lines are preferably mounted on the recorder casing for operation by the actuating devices on the periphery of the chart disk.

The auxiliary valve means is preferably in the form of a valve block 27 secured as by means of screws 28 on the top of the recorder casing. This block is formed with an inlet port 29, Figure 2, the outer end 30 of which is adapted for the connection therewith of a fluid pressure or compressed air line 31. This port is connected by a passageway 32 with a main distributing channel 33 having a branch 34 communicatin with the chamber 35 of a valve 36, which chamber extends through the top of the block and is closed by a cap 36. The lower end of the valve chamber communicates through a seat 37 with a channel 38 communicating in turn with a port 39, the outer end of which is adapted for connection with an air line 40 leading, for example, to a diaphragm valve controlling the pasteurizer milk outlet. At 41 is a threaded plug adjustable toward and from the end of a channel 42 communicating with the outlet port 39, for providing a small or slow leak or vent for the relief of pressure in the outlet pipe through a slot 43 in the side of the plug for the purpose of reducing the pressure in the outlet pipe to that of the atmosphere when pressure from the supply line is cut oif. Sliding in the channel 38 is a stem 44 carrying a valve 45 cooperatin with the seat 37. The stemvis continued a ove the valve as shown and provided with a spring 46 housed in cap 36 for normally urging the valve downwardly to seat the same. The lower end of the Valve stem projects into the recorder casing for actuation to open the valve by the actuating devices on the recorder disk hereafter described.

The pressure distributing channel 33 of the valve block communicates at 47, Figure 2, with the chamber of a second auxiliary valve indicated generally at 48. This valve is of the same construction as valve 36 already described, having a valve stem 49 projecting into the recorder casing as shown for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to an outlet port 50 adapted for connection, for example, with an automatic diaphragm valve controlling the pasteurizer milk inlet. Fluid corder casing for actuation to control thesupply of fluid pressure to an outlet port 54 which is adapted for connection, for example, with an automatic diaphragm valve governing the supply of a heating medium to the pasteurizer jacket or coils. The electrical contact means operated by the pen arm at a predetermined temperature or pressure as described above, may be employed, for example, for controlling a circuit connected with binding posts 22 and 26 and with electrical devices for operating valve means to discontinue the supply of heating medium to the pasteurizer at a predetermined temperature, but of course such adaptation of the present invention is mentioned merely by way of illustration of one of various contemplated uses for the same.

The peripherof the recorder chart disk is provided in t e present instance with cam surfaces for operating the stems of the air valves mounted on the casing as described, preferably through an intermediate lever on the casing provided with a follower for the cam surfaces and with means engaging directly with the valve stems. The lever shown at 55 is pivotally mounted at 56 on a bracket 57 fixed on the casing. The lever carries L-shaped clips 58, 59 and 60 projecting below the stems of the valves 36, 48 and 52, respectively, for raising the stems in predetermined order as the lever is swung, it being noted that valve 36 is on the opposite side of the lever pivot from the other two valves. The opposite end of the lever has a forwardly extended spur 61 bearing upon the periphery of the recorder disk 8 and operating as a follower for the cam surfaces thereon. A leaf spring 68 is provided for maintaining the follower in co-operation with the disk and a manually operable plunger 69 projecting through the casing has a foot plate 7 0 below the lever for temporarily holding the latter out of engagement with the disk When the plunger is pulled outwardly and turned to support a pin 71 in the plunger on top of a guide sleeve 72 for the latter carried by the casing.

The recorder disk is preferably provided with a plurality of actuating devices or cam surfacesspaced circumferentially about the same for repeated actuation of the control devices or valves on the casing. In the present instance each such cam surface comprises a neutral portion 7 3 adapted to support follower 61 and lever in such a position shown in Figure 3, that all of the valves are seated by their springs. In each cam surface the neutral portion 73 is followed by a depressed portion 7 4; which permits the follower 61 to drop so that lever bracket 58 is raised and valve 36 is opened, transmitting fluid pressure, for example, for opening the milk outet valve of the pasteurizer tank. Cam depression 7 a has a length corresponding to the required emptying period for the tank and is followed by a raised portion 75. The latter swings lever 55 in the opposite direction to permit the valve 36 to close and to raise bracket 59 to open valve 48. As shown in 'Figure 4C, bracket of valve 52 is lower than bracket 59 so that valve 52 is not at this time opened. The closing of valve 36 and opening of valve 48 serves to close the pasteurizer outlet valve and open its inlet valve and the raised cam portion 75 preferably has a length corresponding to the required period for filling the tank. This cam portion terminates in an elevated tip 76 which further swings lever 55 in the same direction so that bracket 60 then opens valve 52, transmitting air pressure, for example, to open a main diaphragm valve for admitting heat to the pasteurizer jacket or coils. When the cam tip 76 passes out of contact with follower 61 lever 55 returns to neutral position on the disk portion 7 8 and valves 48 and 52 permitted to close. The neutral portion 7 3 is of a predetermined length corresponding, for example, to the desired period for holding milk in the pasteurizer under heat treatment. At the end of this period the milk is discharged by the dropping of follower 61 into a succeeding cam depression 7 4. The construction is preferably such that while opening of auxiliary Valve 52 opens the main valve supply heat to the pasteurizer, the closing of valve 52 does not close the main valve but leaves the latter to be closed by electrical means operated by the closing of contacts 20 and 24 at a predetermined temperature.

While the invention has been explained in the present instance in connection with one adaptation in which it has been found useful, such adaptation is referred to merely by way of illustration and it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to a wide variety of uses for conjointly measuring recording and controlling the operation of an apparatus and the term controlling is used in a broad sense as inclusive of the operation of signal means and the like, as well as the automatic operation of main valves and other governing parts. The fluid pressure relay means may also be replaced by electrical switch means for operating electrical relays While the recorder may be of the pressure recording type where desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In recording apparatus having a record chart holder, a motor for rotating the chart holder and a casing enclosing the same, the combination of an element movable through the casing and means disposed on the record chart holder for co-operation with said element to effect movement thereof.

2. In recording apparatus having a record chart holder, a motor for rotating the chart holder and a casing enclosing the same, the combination of an element movable radially through the casing and cam mechanism on the record chart holder for co-operation with said element to effect movement thereof,

3. In recording apparatus having a record chart holder, a motor for rotating the chart holder and a casing enclosing the same, the combination of an element movable radially through the casing, a lever pivotally supported on the casing having a part for co-operation with the said element to effect movement thereof, and a cam element on the record chart holder for co-operation with the lever.

4. In recording apparatus having a record chart holder, a motor for rotating the chart holder and a casing enclosing the same, the

combination of an element movable radially through the casing, an arcuate lever pivotally supported on the casing outwardly of the peripher of the chartholder to define a short and a relatively long arm, the short arm of which is disposed to co-operate with thesaidholder and a casing enclosing the same, the Combination of a lever pivotally supported in the casing outwardly of the periphery of the chart holder, a cam on the chart holder for engagement with one part of the lever, and an element movable radially through the casing, said element being operatively connected With another part of the lever.

6. In recording apparatus having a record chart holder, a motor for rotating the chart holder and a casing enclosing the same, the combination of a lever pivotally supported in the casing outwardly of the periphery of the chart holder for movement in a plane substantially parallel to the plane or motion thereof, a cam on the chart holder for engagement with one part or" the lever, and an mcaeea element movable radially through the casing, said element being operatively connected With another part of the lever.

7. In recording apparatus having a record chart holder, a motor for rotating the chart holder and a casing enclosing the same, the combination of a lever pivotally supported in the casing'outwardly of the periphery of the chart holder to define a short and a. relatively long arm extending along the periphery of the chart, a cam on the chart holder for engagement With the lever and an element movable radially throngh the casing, said element being operatively connected With another part or" thelever,

ALBERT E. OLAWSON. 

